My wife initiated the conversation to get a bike. this was after I was riding for about 3 months, lost some weight, less tired, much healthier, quit sitting at a computer in the evenings. I think me buying a trailer for the daughter pushed her into thinking.. Of course, she wanted just a cheap bike from sportmart or something, some comfort recreational rig. I indulged her and we went and tried a number out. The in cool, calculating way a husband can be, I stopped by a bike shop I goto, to get a new tube, and imagine what they had there ( i knew, because i researched and called ahead) a Specialized Sequoia. She got on it, and loved it. even though she refused even try a road bike at other places.
She balked at the price, but the ride was worth it to her. The point really hit home when a weekend later, we went riding some friends of her, and her friend was struggling with some 40 pound cheap bike (like what she was looking at)